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Two killed including girl, 12, in Japan stabbing spree

Posted: 7:51 AM, May 28, 2019

Updated:2019-05-28 08:01:39-04

By:
CNN Newsource

Two people, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed and 16 other children hurt in a stabbing spree in Japan on Tuesday — a rare act of public violence in a country considered one of the safest in the world.

The attack took place near a park in the city of Kawasaki, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Tokyo, authorities said.

Kawasaki Police said a total of 19 people were stabbed, including the two victims who died. Police said the girl killed was named Hanako Kuribayashi and a male victim was called Satoshi Oyama, a 39-year-old government employee.

The suspected attacker also died from a "self-inflicted wound," Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported. Police officers previously told NHK that the man, believed to be in his 40s or 50s, had stabbed himself in the neck.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the attack was "heartbreaking."

"We must keep our children safe at all costs," Abe told reporters. "I've instructed the related ministers to take immediate action to ensure the children's safety in going to and leaving school."

NHK reported earlier Tuesday that three people -- including an elementary school student -- were in critical condition. It's unclear if the girl who died was among them.

The Tuesday incident took place during US President Donald Trump's visit to the country. Speaking aboard a Japanese helicopter carrier, Trump said the American people grieved for the victims' families.